주다
juda[t͡ɕuda̠]
To give in Korean is 주다 (juda).
The phrase refers to the act of transferring ownership of something to another person. It can also function as an auxiliary verb when attached to another verb (in the form –어/아 주다) to indicate that an action is being performed for someone else's benefit.
Which one should you use?
While 주다 is the standard form, Korean uses different verbs depending on the social relationship between the giver and the receiver. Use 드리다 when you are giving something to someone of higher social status or someone you must show respect to. Use 주시다 when the person who is performing the action of giving is of a higher status, as this form shows respect to the giver.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Korean, the choice of verb changes to reflect social hierarchy. To show respect to the receiver, use the honorific 드리다. To show respect to the giver, the verb is conjugated as 주시다. Additionally, 주다 can be used as an auxiliary verb in the construction –어/아 주다 to express doing something for another person.
How do you pronounce it?
juda
Did you know?
- In Korean, you cannot use a single verb for 'to give' if you are speaking about a king or a deity. Special high-honorific words like 하사하다 are used when a superior gives something to an inferior.
- The auxiliary form –어/아 주다 is so common that it is often used to soften requests, making a command sound like a favor. Without it, a request can sound blunt or demanding to a native speaker.
- Because of the strict hierarchy, using the standard 주다 to an elder or a boss can be perceived as an intentional insult rather than a simple grammatical error.
Examples in context
- 선물을 주다To give a presentThis sentence shows how to use 주다 with a noun to express giving a present.
- 선생님이 책을 저에게 주셨어요.The teacher gave me a book.
- 친구가 선물을 나에게 줬어.My friend gave me a present.
- 친구에게 책을 주다.chingu-ege chaek-eul juda.To give a book to a friend.
- 동생에게 옷을 주다.dongsaeng-ege ot-eul juda.To give clothes to a younger sibling.
Example conversation
Jihoon and Seoyeon are talking about a birthday present.
- 지훈 Ji-hun서연 씨, 이 꽃을 당신에게 주고 싶어요.Seo-yeon ssi, i kkot-eul dang-sin-e-ge ju-go sip-eo-yo.Seoyeon, I want to give these flowers to you.
- 서연 Seo-yeon정말요? 너무 감사해요, 지훈 씨!jeong-mal-yo? neo-mu gam-sa-hae-yo, Ji-hun ssi!Really? Thank you so much, Jihoon!
- 지훈 Ji-hun내일은 다른 선물도 주다.nae-il-eun da-reun seon-mul-do ju-da.I will give you another gift tomorrow.
- 서연 Seo-yeon기대할게요. 정말 고마워요.gi-dae-hal-ge-yo. jeong-mal go-ma-wo-yo.I'll look forward to it. Thank you truly.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 주다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
